Foiling device for wax dentures



Nov; 19, 1940. J. J. DWYER 2,222,531

FOILING DEVICE FOR WAX DENTURES Filed April 29, 1939 2 SheetS- -Sheet 1Nov. 19, 1940. T M. DWYER I 2,222,531

' FOILINC: DEVICE FOR WAX DENTURES Filed April 29, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2W III r r '.\"I/L Patented Nov. 19, 1940 UNITED STATES FFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufactureof dentures in which theartificial teeth are'mounted in a plate formed of a molded plastic,certain of which plastics must, in the process of manufacture, beprepared in molds which are lined with an impervious substance such astin-foil which is chemically inert toward the plastic.

The usual practice is to apply the tin-foil to the mold by hand and tosmooth it down and fit it into the surface irregularities. Apparatuseshave been devised for mechanically foiling the Wax denture from whichthe mold is formed but all of these apparatuses with which I am familiarare of such nature that they either do not smooth- 1y affix the foil tothe denture or into the irregularities thereof, due primarily, to thefact that they do not properly conform to the denture prior to theapplication of pressure through which the actual foiling operation isaccomplished. Furthermore, wax dentures are fragile and the strainplaced thereon unless'evenly applied has a tendency to deform the same.Additionally, these devices require the use of excessive pressure,cannot be employed in foiling dental casts or models without flaskingthe same and ordinarily employ a rigid mounting for the flask requiringseparate fixtures for use with flasks of different sizes.

Important objects of the present invention are the production of adevice which may be utilized in foiling such dentures, which is soconstructed that pressure is applied uniformly about the denture, moldor cast, which is so constructed that it may be utilized with equalfacility on shallow or deeply arched dentures, which may be employed infoiling with or without a flask and which will accommodate flasks ofvarious sizes.

Another object of the invention is the production of a device of thischaracter which may be cheaply manufactured and in which the foiling maybe accomplished with the use of much less pressure than that heretoforeconsidered necessary.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in theaccompanying drawings wherein, for the purpose of illustration, I haveshown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a combined perspective partially in section illustrating afoiling device constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2. is a sectional view through the composite fluidly resilientmember by which'pressure is directly applied to the denture and foil;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the main body of the pressure-applyingmember;

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the removable filler piece employed with thecomposite pressure-applying member under certain circumstances;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the mold in the process of foiling adeeply arched or lower denture;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing an apparatus in use for foiling ashallowly arched or upper denture;

Fig. 7 is a perspective of the filler ring employed about the dentalflask;

Fig. 8 is a section similar to that of Fig. 5, showing the foilingprocess prior to the application of pressure;

Fig. 9 is a section on line 99 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 1D is a perspective view showing the insert employed when foilingdental casts or models without the use of a flask; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view through the foiling device illustratingfailing of a dental cast without the use of a flask.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral If]designates a dental flask containing either a wax impression D of anartificial denture, or a dental cast I conforming to one side of theproposed denture, and l I a metallic container for the flask having aninternal diameter larger than the flask. About the flask I arrange ahighly resilient ring l2 which conforms to the outer surface of theflask and to the inner surface of the container 1 I. Within thecontainer I impose upon the flask a fluidly resilient pressure elementcomprising a main body l3 and a molded insert M adapted to fit withinand conform to the shaping of a recess l5 formed in the under surface ofthe main body and conforming substantially to the shaping of anartificial denture having a relatively deeply arched formation such as alower plate.

The main body has a depression Iii in its upper surface so formed thatthe cross section of the main body upon any diameter is, as nearly aspossible, uniform and of substantial thickness with the filler member l4removed. Insert I4 is, of course, formed of the same material aspressure element I3. A cap I! is provided through which pressure may beapplied to the pressureapplying member l3, this cap having its innersurface formed to conform to the shaping of the upper surface of thepressure-applying member l3. It will be obvious that, due to the factthat the material of pressure element l3 and the insert I 4 is fluidlyresilient and, due to the fact that by use or omission of the insert Mthe pressure element can be made to conform very nearly exactly to thecontour of the member to be foiled,

that pressure will be uniformly applied about the surfaces of thedenture or cast and the foil will, accordingly, be smoothly forced inposition thereagainst. Furthermore, due to the use of the highlyresilient ring I2 the flask l may shift within the container II toproperly centralize itself to imposed pressures, thus avoidingapplication of the severe side strains resulting fromthe use of i thering l2 this insert conforming in size and fixed structures.

In addition to foiling devices contained in flasks it is also possibleto foil dental casts or models without placing the same in a flask, thisbeing illustrated in the sectional view forming Figure 11. In performingthis operation the insert l8 illustrated in Figure 10 is utilized withinshape to the opening of the ring. As a matter of fact, in practice thering l2 and insert l8 are I shipped as a solid disc from which theinsertis cut in accordance with the size of flasks employed by the user.Upon the disc formed. by the combination of ring [2 and insert l8 thedental cast I 20 is seated and the pressure member [3 or this member incombination with the insert l4 employed depending upon the nature of thecast which is to be foiled. Since a resilient base is provided for thecast and this base has the same resiliency and characteristics as thepressureapplying member, it is obvious that inequalities in pressurewhich otherwise would result in breakage of the cast will be avoided.

It is to be understood that the term denture l as employed .in theappended claims comprises dental impressions and casts therefrom as Wellas limiting myself to the arrangement herein specifically illustratedexcept as hereinafter claimed.

I claim: 1. In a foiling device for Waxed-up dentures and the likecomprising a flask receiving the denture, a rigid receiver looselysurrounding the flask, a resilient filler peripherally encompassing theflask and loosely fitting Within the receiver, a cap interiorlyconstructed to substantially conform to the shape of the exposed face ofthe denture and of substantially uniform thickness in directionsperpendicular to the denture and a i rigid member interiorly fitting thereceiver and conforming to the shape of the cap through which pressuremay be applied to the denture through the cap, said cap being formed ofmaterial having the inherent characteristics of soft rubber.

2. In a foiling device for waxed-up dentures and the like comprising asupport for the denture, a rigid receiver for the support and denture, acap interiorly constructed to substantially conform to the shape of theexposed face of the denture and of substantially uniform thickness indirections perpendicular to the denture and a rigid member interiorlyfitting the receiver and conforming to the shapeof the cap through whichpressure may be applied to the denture through the cap, said cap beingformed of material having the inherent characteristics of soft rubber.

3. In a foiling device for waxed-up dentures and the like comprising asupport for the denture, a'rigid receiver for the support and denture, acap interiorly constructed to substantially conform to the shape of theexposed face of the denture and of substantially uniform thickness indirections perpendicular to the denture and a rigid member interiorlyfitting the receiver and conforming to the shape of the cap throughwhich pressure maybe applied to the denture through the cap, said capandsupport being formed of material having the inherent characteristics ofsoft rubber.

4. In a foiling device for waxed-up dentures and the like comprising asupport for the denture, I

a rigid receiver forvthe support and denture, a cap having its innerface' grooved to substantially conform to the shape of the exposed faceof the denture and of substantially uniform thickness in directionsperpendicular to the denture, a rigid memberinteriorly fitting thereceiver and conforming to the shape of the cap through which pressuremay be applied to the denture through the cap, and a filler for saidgroove, said cap and filler being formed of material having theinherentcharacteri's'tics of soft rubber.

5. In a foiling device for. waxed-up dentures and the like'comprising asupport forthedenture, a rigid receiver for thesupport and denture, acap having its inner face grooved to substantially conform to the shapeof the exposed face ofthe denture and of substantially uniform thicknessin directions perpendicular to the denture, a rigid member interiorlyfitting the receiver and conforming to the shape of the cap throughwhich pressure may be applied to the denture through the cap, and afiller for said groove, said cap support and filler being formed ofmaterial having the inherent'characteristics of soft rubber.

. JAMES J. DWYER.

